1776.] OF THE PROVINCE OF MARYLAND. 119

That if any person or persons elected or appointed to be of the said
council of safety, shall decline or refuse to act, or shall die before
the next convention, the other members of the said council of
safety, (being four at least) may elect and appoint one other in the
room of each person who shall so decline or refuse to act or die,
which person or persons so elected and appointed shall take the
same oath, and have the same powers and authorities, in conjunc-
tion with the other members, as are given by this convention to the
said council.

The journal of accounts was read and assented to.

Ordered, That the treasurer of the western shore pay the sever-
al claims allowed in the same.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning half after 9 o'clock.

THURSDAY, January 18, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except
Mr. W. Ennalls, Mr. G. Dasheill, Mr. Potter, Mr. Dickinson, and
Mr. Mason. The proceedings of yesterday were read.

Ordered, That the treasurer of the western shore pay to Mr. Ed-
ward Parker of Cecil county, or his order, out of the bills of credit
in his hands, three hundred pounds common money, to enable him
to carry on his linen and woollen manufactory.

Whereas, it is necessary for securing the evidences of the pro-
perty of the good people of this province, that the records of the
land office, secretary's, and commissary's offices, and also the re-
cords of Anne Arundel county court, should be removed from the
city of Annapolis to some place of greater security.

Resolved, That the council of safety send the said records, pack-
ed in chests by the respective clerks, to some fit and secure place,
first having prepared a proper house for the reception of the same,
and that the said council commit the said records to the care and
management of one of the clerks of the said offices respectively.

Resolved, That each of the said clerks so employed by the coun-
cil of safety, do respectively take the care and management of the
records of the office to which he belongs, and deliver copies of the
said records to the people of this province, when thereunto requir-
ed, upon being paid for the same.

Resolved, That any extraordinary expenses of the said clerks in
taking care of the said records be paid by the convention of this
province.

On motion, Resolved, That such young gentlemen as resort to
the regular troops, in the quality of volunteers or cadets with the
consent of the colonel of the battalion, for their improvement in the